What to Do When the Car Insurance Expires

The renewal of car insurance after its due date is of utmost importance as it ensures that your car stays financially protected during any unforeseen events. Moreover, as per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, you must have a valid car insurance policy to drive your car on Indian roads. Hence, you must renew your car insurance on time to avoid being caught without valid car insurance and being penalised.

Every car insurance policy comes with an expiration date. The policy expiration could be one year from the date of activation or even 3 years, depending on the policy time period chosen by you. As per the New Motor Vehicles Act, 2019, all vehicle owners are required to have at least a third-party car insurance plan if they wish to drive their cars legally on Indian roads.

If you are caught driving your car without valid insurance, you may be fined up to ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 or may even be imprisoned. Further, if you are involved in an accident and do not have insurance, you will be liable to pay for damages caused to the third party. So it’s vital to renew your car insurance before expiry.

Let us explore the three categories of car insurance renewal after expiry:

• Renew Expired Car Insurance Immediately After Expiry

If your car insurance expires, your insurer will most likely send you a notification through SMS or email informing the same. If you renew your insurance within a day or two after expiry, you would not have to face any negative consequences or extra fees. You will also be eligible for using your No Claim Bonus.

• Renew Expired Car Insurance Within Grace Period

Generally, insurance companies offer a ‘grace period’ of 30 days. You can renew your car insurance plan within the grace period offered by your company without any negative consequences or additional fees.

• Renew Expired Car Insurance After the Grace Period Has Expired

If you renew expired car insurance after the grace period has passed, you might have to purchase a brand new car insurance plan. Moreover, your car insurance premiums could also go up. Any accumulated No Claim Bonus will not be available if you renew your car insurance after the expiry of the grace period.

There are a lot of advantages of renewing your car insurance policy on time,

• Takes care of financial liability

No matter how carefully you drive, there are chances you get involved in an accident causing damage to a third-party person or property. If you have renewed your car insurance on time, your insurance provider will take care of the financial obligations on your behalf.

• Don’t end up paying repair charges from your own pocket

If you have already renewed your car insurance, you will not have to worry about the huge repair expenses of your car.

• Saves from law violation

Driving with expired car insurance can cause you trouble with heavy penalties and imprisonment. Renewing your car insurance policy protects you from these violations.

• No Claim Bonus stays intact

Renewal of car insurance policy keeps your no-claim bonus intact and you can avail of the benefits by getting discounts on your premiums.

Yes, you can choose to renew your car insurance policy from a different insurer at the time of renewal. Fortunately, you can also carry forward your No Claim Bonus to the new insurance provider. However, it is recommended that you buy a new insurance renewal policy before your existing plan expires. It will avoid any legal or financial issues that may arise out of expired car insurance.

There are multiple risks associated with having an expired car insurance policy. These include risks of failure to comply with the motor laws of India as well as the liabilities that may arise out of an unfortunate accident. Above all, if you get injured in a car accident whilst your car is not insured, you cannot access the benefits of the Personal Accident Cover as well. You must, therefore, be mindful of your car insurance expiry date and ensure that you renew the policy on time.

If you are looking for an adequate car insurance plan, check out the range of motor insurance policies available on Bajaj Markets. You can compare different plans and buy the best-suited car insurance for you and your vehicle.